The Sprout
It’s Christmas time – beware of the Sprouts!
The newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 143 Winter 2019
The Sprout
Issue 143, Winter 2019
Contents
3 Letters to the Editor
5 New Community Hall
9 Citizens’ Advice
11 Betty Lawes
13 Goodbye Mr Tawney
17 Oxbridge Expressway
21 Fireworks at Botley School
22 Christmas services
25 The Home Front
27 Sprout’s Little Helpers
29 Ghosts of Christmas Past
33 Oxford Half Marathon
35 Planning Applications
37 Remembrance service
39 Branches to close
41 Randoms
43 Local organizations
From the Editor
This month’s seasonal offerings include details of Christmas church
services all around the parish (p22), firework night at Botley School
(p21), and an account of the local Remembrance Sunday service
(p37). As well as all the dead in the catastrophic wars of the past
hundred years, we also acknowledge two deaths close to home: Betty
Lawes, who died after a long and useful life (p11) and John Howes
(p13) beloved by Brownies and work colleagues alike, whose life was
tragically cut short in a bike accident at Farmoor. The Sprout always
likes to be helpful, so we have included some tips on surviving
Christmas (p29) and the first part of a new series on fighting climate
change on the home front (p25) – send us your ideas and we’ll be
happy to print them. We thought you’d like to know just how the
Sprout gets onto your doormat, so our delivery team have spilt the
beans (p27). Then there are insights into what it feels like to run a Half
Marathon (p33), what the new Community Hall’s going to be like (p5),
and what’s in the air with the proposed Xpressway (p17). Our next
issue won’t be till February 2020, so goodbye till then and Happy
Christmas to all our readers!
Ag MacKeith
Letters to the Editor
Iniquitous cost of local burial
It would be reasonable for residents of Botley to assume that their
local cemetery was Botley cemetery, on North Hinksey Lane. Not
so! Botley Cemetery, while located in the Vale of White Horse
District Council, is managed by Oxford City Council. The implication
of this for a Botley resident is that they are treated as ‘out of area’ by
Oxford City and therefore incur a triple cost surcharge for burial
there. For my mother, Ina Godfrey, who lived in Crabtree Rd for 71
years and who sadly died on 30th September, the cost for burying
her ashes in the plot where her husband Ron was already interred
was £720.
This seems iniquitous and one that I will appeal. However, I thought
that the Sprout should make its loyal readers aware.
Roger Godfrey
[If Botley Cemetery is not our local cemetery, where is it? Enquiries
are in train and we will pass on what we find out in a future edition!
Editor]
Inclusivity rules at URC
Ruth Wilson’s article about North Hinksey tea party (November
Sprout) celebrating the founding of Stonewall, the LGBT charity,
made interesting and happy reading. I once worked for a wonderful
gay man whose partner of 35 years died and a relative had to travel
from Scotland to register his death. It was two years before the
Government made Civil Marriages legal. My ex-boss also died 18
months later and never lived to see the new law enacted.
Cumnor United Reformed Church became the first church in
Oxfordshire to be registered for Same Sex Marriages in June 2017.
This small church with mainly older people felt it was wrong to sit in
judgement of others and treat people differently. All who join us in
worship on Sundays at 10.30 am are warmly welcomed. Also, in our
hall is a large, beautifully presented plaque of a testimony given by a
former member who was disabled and died last year at the age of
40. He was much loved and is still missed. We are all God’s children
and celebrate our differences at Cumnor URC. More information at
our website: www.cumnorurc.org.uk
Briony Newport
Your new community hall
If you regularly walk
from Elms Rise to
the shops or West
Way since the
summer you will
have watched the
steady rise of the
community hub
building on what
used to be the car
park behind St Peter
and St Paul church.
The photo shows the
building as at mid
November and by
the time you read this it will likely be completed.
The new building will be three storeys high, one of the lower
buildings in the new West Way Square development. It will be home
to the Baptist church at the Arthray Road end, and, at the West Way
road end, to Seacourt Hall on the ground floor, the Library on the
first floor and office space on
the second.
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee was set up by North
Hinksey Parish Council to run
the hall for the community. It
consists of four PC reps, plus
nominated hall users and
elected public representatives.
We have been working with a
budget provided by the
developers for the kitchen, the
other fittings and furniture in
order to provide the best
facilities for all users. We will
also reuse what we can from
the temporary hall and any
older items will be offered to
local charities and groups – x
look out for more information online. Our new Hall will be handed
over in December and then the various tenants will be fitting it out
and moving in over the next month. We aim to open in early January
(date still to be confirmed at time of writing) and we have set a
provisional official open day event for Saturday 25th January, so
look out for posters and announcements nearer the time.
The new hall was a requirement of the planning permission granted
to Botley Development Company. It replaces the community hall
facility that was a part of the shopping centre. The old hall was
demolished in 2017 and for the past 8 months we have operated
from a temporary home on the second floor above the Co-op. We
are looking forward to moving to the new building which will provide
much more modern, accessible and flexible facilities for the whole
community.
The new Seacourt Hall will have large and smaller rooms with the
option of subdivision in a number of ways. The large hall area has a
wooden sprung dance floor, ideal for the dance and exercise
classes that already use the space, and we have interest from a
number of new groups too.
The hall also has a modern acoustic ceiling and hearing loop
installed making it ideal not just for parish council and other
meetings, but also for music practice or performances, and the
space with the kitchen works well for parties and dinners. The hall
can be extended to the full length of the building to incorporate the
vinyl floor area and there is a carpeted lounge area that can be hired
separately or extended to the width of that half of the building. The
whole space can also be hired. The fully fitted kitchen is accessible
from both sides by door and serving hatches, as are the toilets, and
there are accessible entrances at the front and side of the building.
Once the building is complete and handed over we will be able to
access and take photos of the different rooms and layouts so you
can get a real sense of the facilities. We also hope as many people
as possible can come to the Open Day in January to see the
facilities, demonstrations of how the space can be used, and to let
us know how you would like the space to work for you. Look out for
more information online at http://www.seacourthall.org.uk/, https://
northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/ and on Facebook:
facebook.com/northhinkseypc
Lorna Berrett
Citizens’ Advice:
Apply now to remain in UK
If you are a European Union citizen living or working in
the UK, you might be wondering what will happen when
the United Kingdom leaves the EU, and what you
should do so that you have the right to remain in this
country. The government has set up a programme called the EU
Settlement Scheme which is intended for you. There is no charge
for applying to this scheme. Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway and Switzerland can also apply. It is important that you
apply NOW, without waiting until the UK actually leaves. You can
begin the process here: https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-
citizens-families/applying-for-settled-status
If your application is successful you will be able to continue living in
the UK after 30 June 2021. You will also have the right to work in the
UK, use the National Health Service, get access to benefits and
pensions if you are eligible, and travel in and out of the country.
There is more information about your rights on the government
website.
The new deadline for the UK to leave the EU is 31 January 2020 but
it is still unclear exactly how it will take place, especially in view of
the general election in December. If the UK leaves the EU without a
deal, you will need to be living in the UK before it leaves the EU in
order to apply. Check the Citizens Advice website at:
citizensadvice.org.uk/ immigration/staying-in-the-uk-after-brexit.
South Oxfordshire District Council also has up-to-date advice on
www.southoxon.gov.uk/brexit. You can visit us in person at our
office in St Aldates or call us on Adviceline (0300 330 9042).
CA celebrates 80 years as vital service continues
Volunteers and staff from Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and
Vale were joined by representatives from the town and district coun-
cils at the Guildhall in Abingdon on 15 October to celebrate 80 years
of service to the local community. The service was founded in 1939,
the day after World War II was declared, to help people deal with the
impact of war. Volunteers gave advice on evacuation, ration books,
new housing for those whose homes had been bombed, and even
provided recipes using the limited ingredients available on rationing.
Eighty years on, the issues may have changed, but core values of
Citizens Advice remain the same: to provide free, confidential and
impartial advice to everyone everywhere. Last year, Citizens Advice
Oxfordshire South and Vale, an independent charity, helped 11,999
people resolve 20,200 problems including debt, housing, Universal
Credit, benefits, family problems and consumer issues. For many
people this service is a lifeline.
The number of people seeking advice has increased by 30 per cent
over the last three years and the local offices need more volunteers
to keep the service running. Volunteer posts include: advisers, re-
ceptionists, administrators, IT support and fundraisers. If you are in-
terested, contact Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale for
more information on 01235 550553 or email recruit-
ment@osavcab.org.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Betty Lawes: ‘a distinguished addition to the communion of
saints’
Betty Lawes was the oldest living resident of North Hinksey Village,
in a house overlooking the Green until she died in early November,
aged 102. She came to Oxford in 1959 with her husband Jim, to
teach at Westminster College on Harcourt Hill (now part of Brookes
University). Jim, a former parish councillor, died in 2008.
Her thanksgiving service was held on Friday November 15 at
Wesley Memorial Church, where she had been a regular attender
for 60 years. A fall after church had resulted in a short period in
hospital, after which she died. Fifty friends and neighbours, including
her Polish carer, attended the service.
Rev Dr Martin Wellings noted that, in character, Betty had left full
instructions for the service. He recalled that Betty had trained to be
a teacher and then did a post-graduate degree at Durham
University, where one of her teachers was a future Archbishop of
Canterbury, Michael Ramsey. She met her husband Jim there on a
blind date. He closed by noting that Betty lived a life of service in
the context of Christian faith and hope and now joined those who
trusted Jesus’ words which were read as a lesson: “I will take you to
be with me that you also may be where I am” (John’s gospel, chap
14 vs 3). Chris Sugden
Goodbye ‘Mr Tawney’
It is with much sadness that we must
report the death of John Howes (“Mr
Tawny”) who passed away at the end
of October as the result of a tragic
road accident when he was knocked
off his bicycle on his way home from
work.
John had been an active member of
the 2nd Botley Brownie Leadership
Team for over 25 years. He was a
selfless, thoughtful and caring man
whose actions spoke louder than
words. He started volunteering with
the 2nd Botley Brownies to help his
wife Lucy (Tawny Owl) if we were
short of Adult Leaders. However, over time this became more
frequent and he became our official chef on Brownie Holidays,
where all his delicious home-made food – and especially his fruit
crumble – became a firm favourite amongst the Brownies and
Leaders. He would often, to the delight and gleeful encouragement
of the Brownies, play practical jokes on the other leaders!
He was also well known in the local community for his (nearly) 25
year-long service as a postman for Royal Mail where, over the
years, his deliveries had included North Oxford, Kidlington and
Cumnor. He always had a kind word and a friendly smile for anyone
who spoke to him whilst out on his cycle delivery.
After Royal Mail, he worked for the Passport Office for ten years,
where he continued to be a reliable and supportive friend to his
colleagues, before he started working as a Lodge Porter at Nuffield
College. Here, too, everyone thought tremendously highly of him
and the students were made to feel at home through his friendly and
helpful demeanour and in-depth knowledge of Oxford and of history
in general.
John was a keen cyclist who had cycled from Land's End to John
O'Groats for charity – and then did so again, just for fun, with his
wife. In the last few years, he took up running and would often be
seen around Cumnor or Farmoor in this year’s quest to run 1,000
miles.
John was a devoted loving husband, father and son with a great
sense of humour and a heart of gold. He was extremely proud of his
family and spoke of them often with great affection. Even after his
demise he continues to give, as he has donated his kidneys which
his family hope will be life-changing for the two recipients.
John’s funeral will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday 3rd December at
South Oxfordshire Crematorium & Memorial Park (OX13 5PA).
Family, friends and all those lucky enough to have known him are
most welcome to join us in celebrating his life. Family flowers only
but if you would like to make a donation in memory of John, a
collection will be made for a memorial bench.
Lucy Howes
The Sprout will be happy to make a contribution, Lucy, in memory of
such a good man, whose life was cut short so suddenly!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Expressway – No Way!
North Hinksey and Cumnor Parish councils called a meeting in early
November to inform people about the proposed Oxford to
Cambridge Expressway. Seacourt Hall was packed, and buzzing
with speculation.
David Kay welcomed everyone and opened by explaining that the
Expressway, although ostensibly a route from Oxford to the M1 at
Milton Keynes, is really designed to enable a ‘growth arc’ of a million
new homes and associated industry. You might think that we should
have been consulted before such a huge project was decided on,
but we are only being asked which route we think it should follow,
not whether it should go ahead at all. There is united and strong
opposition to the plan, and it is still growing. As for the autumn
consultation, this has now been put off till after the general election.
The second speaker was Prof David Rogers of the No Expressway
Group, who went into much more detail. He agreed that the project
was driven by the goal of a million homes. In our own county, this
would amount to 300,000 new houses. The current total, which has
been 1000 years in the making, is 280,000, so the population of
Oxfordshire will be doubled by 2030 if it goes ahead.
He explained the difference between an A-road, an ‘expressway’
and a motorway. Basically, an expressway is like a ‘mile-a-minute’
motorway, but with lots more junctions. The reason for that would be
that each junction would be the site of thousands of new houses, all
grafted onto existing small towns and villages along the route. For
instance, at the new Abingdon junction, 5,000 new houses for some
13,000 more people; 51,000-plus people in the new houses at the
Kidlington/Bicester junction, etc, etc, all along the route; a little
village like Oakley, just over the border into Bucks, would swell to
the size of Oxford itself. But when huge new developments like this
are planted at high speed, driven by developers with an eye on the
profits, rather than politicians, they can be bereft of a sense of place,
unlike existing small towns and villages.
He ended with a reference to TENTEC, the Trans-European Freight
Network. At present, lorries from Felixstowe, the main point of entry
from the continent, travel around London via the congested M25.
The new corridor would become the route of choice, shorter and
potentially faster for the streams of lorries travelling towards the
middle of the country. Everything about this proposal is wrong, he
ended up. What we need is:
• public transport, not private
• social housing
• more jobs, certainly, but further north
• freight by rail, not by road
and to engage with the affected population.
Chris Church was next, veteran of successful campaigns, putting an
environmental perspective.
Questions followed, of which the first and most pertinent was from
someone who wanted to talk about water. Already our rivers,
streams and aquifers are over-stretched, he pointed out. Even to
find enough water to actually build such a huge number of houses
would be a challenge, but to supply them once built would be
impossible. (An argument against fracking that doesn’t get aired
often enough!) Someone asked about the environmental impact of
the railway connection, and was told that most of it was already
there, just the stretch between Milton Keynes and Cambridge left to
be redeveloped.
Fired up, the meeting got down to considering how best we could
stop the Expressway once and for all. ‘By making it politically toxic,’
said Chris. Both our MPs have come out against it, and all the local
councils. We have to build evidence for the harm it would do, and
challenge it at every point. There are so many reasons why it
shouldn’t go ahead! We can use the elections to press the different
parties to stop it. The only major player still in favour is the
University, although it was initially opposed on climate grounds. But
it does conflict with their stated aim to act to prevent climate change,
so they are open to challenge.
Emma Newton mentioned some local issues: if the route went
through Botley, it would drastically affect the air pollution in local
schools as well as compromise the industrial estates, war graves
and houses in Southern By Pass and Stanley Close. If it goes
through Cumnor instead it would worsen subsidence at the A420
junction, and might spoil stands of ancient woodland in the parish.
The meeting broke up, fiercely determined to do all we can to stop a
plan which is in flat contradiction to the needs of the planet in the
current climate emergency. In a recent article in the Oxford Mail, one
of the leading developers called for an ‘Olympic effort’ to get the
project built – but climate change is what calls for an all-out effort,
not something that will only make things worse. Ag MacKeith
Firework Night
Friends of Botley School would like to say thank you to the local
community for attending our
Fireworks event in early
November and helping us
raise money for the kids.
Special thanks to all the
neighbours who agreed to
have the Finders Keepers
sign in front of their houses
(they’d sponsored the event
with £1000) and also big
thanks to Bidwells based at
Seacourt Tower for paying for
the cost of the Fireworks
(£2000) and to our local
Tesco’s which as usual
provided us with food
donations.
The event is fully organised
by volunteers among the
parents and school staff, and
to all of them who give up
their time and energy for the
kids to have a great evening [photo by Carmen
Caldera]
we are forever grateful.
Money raised will be used to buy much needed IT equipment for the
kids at school (the current one is falling apart!). Thank you so much
again everyone!
Laura Jones, Chair of FOBS (fobsbotley@gmail.com)
CHURCH SERVICES
FOR ADVENT &
CHRISTMAS
C hurch of England
St Peter and St. Paul, West Way
& St. Lawrence, North Hinksey
14th Christmas Messy Church 4-6pm
22nd Christmas Carol Praise St Peter & St. Paul, 9.30am
Carol Service by Candlelight St Lawrence 3.30pm
Christmas Eve Christingle St Peter and St. Paul, 4.30pm
Midnight Communion St Lawrence, 11.30pm
Christmas Day Holy Communion St Peter & St. Paul, 9.30am
Holy Communion St Lawrence, 11.30am
29th Holy Communion St Peter & St. Paul, 9.30am
Holy Communion ST Lawrence, 11.30am
Baptists
1st Advent Service 10:30 am
8th Church Christmas Lunch 12:00 noon
15th Traditional Christmas service
6:30pm
22nd Christmas sing-along 6:30 pm
Christmas Eve Midnight Service 11:30 pm
Christmas Day service 10:30 am
29th Year-end Thanksgiving service 10:30 am
followed by a bring-and-share fellowship lunch
12:00 noon
Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Yarnell’s Hill
& Holy Rood Catholic Church, Folly Bridge
22nd (4th Sunday of Advent)
9.15am Mass Holy Rosary
11.15am Mass Holy Rood
Christmas Eve 9.00am Mass, (Confessions till 10.30am) Holy
Rood
5.30pm Children’s Nativity Play and Vigil Mass Holy Rosary
9.30pm Sung Mass with Blessing of the Crib Holy Rood
Christmas Day 9.15am Sung Mass Holy Rosary
11.15am Sung Mass Holy Rood
29 December (Feast of the Holy Family)
Saturday Vigil: 5.00pm Mass (Divine Worship) Holy
Rood
6.30pm Mass Holy Rosary
9.15am Sung Mass Holy Rosary
11.15am Sung Mass Holy Rood
Tackling the Climate Emergency
on the Home Front (part 1)
This is the first instalment of a new series of short pieces about
small steps towards mitigating Climate Change. Please send us
your ideas. All submissions gladly
accepted.
For the last month I’ve stopped using a
petrochemical-based moisturiser in my
morning shower. Let me explain: skin
irritation had caused my doctor to
suggest washing with moisturiser
instead of soap.
But in the light of the climate problem, I
decided to stop using this moisturiser
and wash solely by scrubbing with
water. This saves the watercourses from
petrochemicals and cuts down on
single-use plastic bottles. I rub myself all over with wet exfoliating
gloves from Body Shop, then rinse off.
So far, after more than a month, I haven’t started to smell, and I have
checked this with my nearest and dearest. I don’t use deodorant.
Perhaps I am just lucky.
Every morning, the gloves rub off a significant amount of dead skin
along with any dirt, judging from the cloudiness of the water running off
the gloves. I have two pairs of these gloves and after each shower I
put the pair I have just used into the washing machine with the day’s
wash.
In addition, I don’t change my clothes until I can detect the faintest of
smells from them, or until there are perceptible stains. This saves
water and energy and offers fewer opportunities for the shedding of
synthetic fibres into the waste water. Scruffy is the new smart.
NB: The Body Shop gloves are made of nylon and recycled
polyethylene terephthalate. Before they wear out, I will look for a
biodegradable alternative. A loofah or organic exfoliating mitt would do,
except that neither would be as good at getting into the ears or
between the toes.
Also note that outside the shower, I wash my hands with soap or hand
wash whenever there is a risk of contamination.
Daisy Fresh
The Sprout’s Little Helpers
On the last Thursday of the month (usually), a
pallet of twenty boxes of Sprouts appears on
our driveway. Once they are in our kitchen,
the kettle is boiled, some up-tempo tunes are
played and the 2400 copies are counted into
the forty 'rounds' – the size of these rounds
varies from 15 copies for one single road, to
nearly 200 for a group of roads.
The rounds are grouped roughly by
geographical area, and are collected by the
five 'distributors'; volunteers who collect a
number of rounds and deliver them to the 'deliverers' who will put
them through the door of their designated street(s). As the Sprout
contains time-sensitive information (and we want them out of our
kitchen!), we try to deal with them as fast as possible. Our
magazine is delivered by volunteers, who may have other
commitments, and be hampered by bad weather and winter's dark
evenings, so sometimes there may be delays.
We've been thinking about how to make the Sprout greener. There
are some rounds which may suit being delivered by cycle; if you or
someone you know has a bicycle or tricycle capable of carrying a
load, or a trailer, and would like to help, do get in touch. We're
delighted to re-use the boxes and bags in which the Sprout rounds
are packaged – particularly as we have to be creative to find enough
packaging to wrap them in.
At present we have enough people to cover all the delivery rounds,
but vacancies arise regularly. We also appreciate having 'stand-by'
volunteers who can cover a deliverer who is away one month.
We started delivering to Hurst Rise and Crabtree Roads after
attending a Sprout AGM about ten years ago. A few months later, we
had an urgent call from Ag (now the Editor) asking if we could cover
deliveries just this once... We love the sense of community being
involved with the Sprout gives us, the unexpectedly diverse
landscape of Botley we've discovered, and the friendly 'thank yous'
we get when putting them through letterboxes.
Bhee and Robin
Ghosts of Christmases Past
This is a self-help section of the Sprout devoted
to surviving Christmas unscathed mentally and
physically, based on lessons learned from a
gaffe-strewn past.
Presents
‘Grandad, is this our Christmas
present?’
‘It is, dear ones, because two dozen AAAs, a
dozen AAs and few of those little round silver
jobbies will save scouring the country for a
corner store open, selling batteries for power-
hungry dinosaurs on Christmas afternoon’.
Last year’s colouring book for the kids? Disaster. Only buy
presents that can be operated with two thumbs and head down.
Secret Santa is fine as a concept but increasing occurrences of
memory lapse mean you need to write down the name of your
chosen recipient. This avoids son-in-law finishing up with nothing
and daughter with two presents, one of which is after-shave.
Decorations
Look, just assume last year’s lights won’t work. You’ve just spent
hours carefully threading 200 of them through a tree when, hey
presto, nothing!
That holly had lovely berries on it yesterday ready for cutting.
Today, not a sign of red and there’s none left in the shops. Silly old
you, you forgot the pigeons, the blackbirds and the magpies who
have a malicious sense of timing.
Do not try to put fancy decorations back in their original box. That
once proud glittering reindeer, now more of a long-eared mouse!
Shopping
Do not sing along to piped music, this can lead to strange accent
disfunction. Santa will become Sanna, holly becomes harley. So,
just
get out of the sharp pronno, Sorry, out of the shop quickly. See it’s
happened already!
It’s the last trolley... Just made it by shoving two zimmer frames out
of the way but, hang on, this coin doesn’t fit! Dammit, it’s a Euro!
Lesson? Serves you right for going abroad, and two zimmers always
win out anyway
Don’t buy any more dates and figs, you’ve still got most left over
from last year, and they’re just for show anyway as nobody eats
them.
Food and Drink
Oh brilliant, you’ve left it until the last minute to dig up your precious
parsnips and leeks and, guess what, ground frozen and too late to
buy any. Lesson? Just buy
them, for heaven’s sake, no one
will spot the difference unless
prompted.
If providing lunch for six or more,
beware at least one will have be-
come vegan since last year and
one will have developed a nut al-
lergy. Yep, there goes that
chestnut stuffing so lovingly pre-
pared!
‘Yes please, oh, just chuck it in,
don’t worry about mixing.’ That
was a 25 year-old claret. Les-
son? Don’t share decent booze
at Christmas.
BAH HUMBUG!!
P.S. Whose turn is it this year? Lesson? Don’t even get involved in
this debate. Leave it to the rest of the family!
E Scrooge
Oxford Half Marathon
On 13th October 2019 I made
my way to the University Park,
along with several thousand
other people, for the Oxford Half
Marathon. This was something I
never considered, having had 6
months off work with a back
injury and walking with a stick
only a couple of years ago. I
started running in May 2018
following the ‘Couch to 5K’ pro-
gramme, then moving on to 10k
by September. Over the winter I
continued running, started going
to the weekly Park Run at
Harcourt Hill and entered some
races. I began to enjoy it and to
look forward to running, much to
my surprise!
In March a friend suggested we
should enter the ballot for the
Oxford Half Marathon. I wasn’t
convinced but entered, never
thinking I would get a place. When I received an email with the
words ‘Congratulations – you’re in!’ as the subject, I almost cried. I
found 10k a manageable distance but had only once run longer and
couldn’t imagine running over twice the distance. However, I kept
training over the summer, slowly lengthening my long runs.
In the week leading up to the event I started having doubts about
the race and whether I would be able to finish, never mind finish
under the 2hrs 30 time I was aiming for. The day arrived and so did
the rain, but I was determined to stay positive. We went from the
University Parks to our starting zone and from there moved slowly
towards the start in Broad Street. Despite the cold and wet there
was a very positive atmosphere and plenty of supporters around the
start. My nerves had gone by this point and I just told myself I was
out for a normal run.
The route took in parts of central Oxford, Summertown, Marston and
back through the park, weaving through streets before ending in
front of the Natural History Museum. The support from spectators
braving the torrential rain was amazing, and there were numerous
musical acts throughout the course giving encouragement too. The
rain continued almost constantly and puddles were impossible to
avoid. I found the strength in both mind and body to keep putting
one foot in front of the other, and only started to tire around the 11
mile marker. The last mile seemed to go on and on, but finally I
could see the finish line. I felt so emotional as I finished, I thought
back to the journey I had been on and all I had been able to
achieve. I was thrilled to have finished in 2:20, smashing my target
time. And my next challenge, a full marathon?
Sarah Gomme
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS
P19/V2515/FUL
Variation of
conditions.
Details to
P16/V0508/FUL
56 Hurst Rise Rd. Demolition of
existing dwelling and associated
outbuildings. Erection of two new 4-
bed dwellings with associated bin
and bike stores.
14 October
Target
Decision Date:
9 Dec
P19/V2520/HH
49 Raleigh Park Rd. Convert
integral garage to ensuite bedroom.
Erect lean-to single storey side
extension.
14 October
TDD: 9 Dec
P19/V2585/LDP
60 Cedar Rd. Enlargement of the
existing rear extension.
22 October
TDD: 15 Dec
P19/V2591/HH
17 Yarnells Hill. Infill ground floor
side & 1st floor extension. Changes
to existing ground floor extension.
25 October
TDD: 20 Dec
P19/V2546/FUL
Botley WI Hall North Hinksey Lane.
Construct single storey extension to
provide disabled WC facilities,
meeting space & storage.
31 October
TDD: 26 Dec
P19/V2646/PDH
Holm Lodge Harcourt Hill. Build
single storey conservatory to rear.
31 October
TDD: 12 Dec
P19/V2651/FUL
1 Maple Close. Retrospective
change of use to C3 dwelling as
7- bed HMO.
1 November
TDD: 27Dec
Remembrance Sunday
I laid a wreath at the Service of
Remembrance on behalf of Botley WI. As
Dr Rook said in his address, the wearing of
poppies and the laying of a wreath is full of
symbolism, the red represents the
bloodshed, the black centre reminds us of
all those who mourned and the green
leaves represent new life. The WI lays a
wreath for all those reasons and
particularly to remember the women who
died in service in the two World Wars. In
Botley’s local Commonwealth War Graves
you can visit the grave of Staff poppy wreath made by
Botley WI
Nurse Murray, one of those 2000 women who died. The WI was
very active during the war years, doing what it could to make things
out of very little. The archives have minutes about canning rose hips
and fruit; many of the members will
have lost loved ones.
On this year’s Remembrance
Sunday, the sun shone, the service
was moving and respectful and
several young people took part
confidently: a reminder that those
who died did so that those young
people may have a future.
Afterwards the WI served hot drinks
and biscuits in the hall, another
tradition that has been going for
several years.
Liz Manson
Have you lost your phone?
We have found one. If you think it
may be yours, please call 01865
244175 to identify it and we will
happily return it to you.
Branches Café: End of This Episode
On Friday 13th December Branches Café, based above the Library in
the old Elms Court office building, will close. We opened in August 2018
with dual purposes of providing a safe space for young people between
the ages of 11 and 18, and a community café for residents and visitors
to Botley whilst the West Way redevelopment took place.
Since opening, we’ve engaged with over 250 young people, socialising,
developing skills and growing as individuals. Some have come to us
through the NCS and Duke of Edinburgh schemes, others have found
their own way to us to get involved with the project or simply needed
somewhere to ‘hang out’ with friends. Those who have wanted to gain
skills have been taught to make proper coffees, serve customers,
prepare food, bake cakes, cash up and even ‘wash up and mop out’!
We’ve also held events including movie and quiz nights exclusively for
young people and
others such as Burns
Supper, Christmas
Lunch and Mad Hatter’s
Tea Party for everyone,
with the younger
element doing the
planning, preparing and
serving the food under
the guidance of our
professional chef.
More recently, with
support from the National Lottery Community Fund we’ve hosted
Intergenerational Tea Parties, young and old have been able to enjoy
time together, talking and playing games (see photo). The last one will
be held in the Seacourt Hall on Thursday 12 December from 3:45-5pm.
What’s Next? Although the Branches Café is closing, Branches Young
People’s Support Service CIC, the organisation behind the café,
continues. In the new year we will be inviting our members to discuss
our next steps to support the young people of Botley and Cumnor.
Finally, we’d like to thank everyone who has visited us (despite the lack
of lift!) also Mace and SDC, who assisted us with creating the space
and went on to consume vast amounts of sausages and bacon. We’d
especially like to thank our adult volunteers and the young people who
have engaged with the café and given us the encouragement and
support to keep going.
Diane Long, Dave Goodspeed and Clive Hodge
Randoms
St Lawrence Church
How reassuring to hear the bells chiming out both at practice on
Friday and for the Sunday service. We enjoy ringing the changes
and learning a new skill that brings the Village together. But, in the
last few months owing to illness or accident, some of the ringers
have had to stand down. They will return, but we urgently need
more people to be part of the group. Please contact Ginger on
721149.
Botley and Kennington Patient Participation Group
Have Your Say about Your Health Centre! The PPG will be
undertaking a survey of services accessed by patients; in particular
appointments and prescriptions. The survey will start on January
2nd. Paper copies will be available at both Botley and Kennington
medical centres or you cn fill it in online. Please take part in this
survey if you can as it will help us give feedback to the practice
about what patients are experiencing. The PPG hope to repeat this
survey in 2021, to see what improvements have been made. Many
thanks.
Sylvia Buckingham, PPG chair
Christmas party at Botley bridges
Botley Bridges will be holding a Christmas party on Friday 13th
December from 9-11am. Just £2 per family but an additional £1.50
per child if you would like a present from Father Christmas. Tickets
are on sale now, you can either buy them at our Stay and Play
sessions or email coordinator@botleybridges.org to reserve
yours. We will ask for the age(s) of the child(ren) you are bringing to
ensure that Father Christmas has the correct number of presents in
his sack.
Foodbank Christmas feast
This tremendous occasion will be taking place again on Christmas
Day at the Kings Centre on Osney Mead Industrial Estate. It is a
free, three-course meal cooked with by volunteers from food that
would otherwise have gone to waste, and expects to host some 400
people. Transport is provided – they will pick you up and bring you
home again, full of good cheer. Everybody is welcome, homeless,
friendless, or just people who want to spend the feast in a blaze of
good will and fellowship. Contact Sara if you want to be included, or
to help: sara@oxfordchristmaslunch.org, or on 07535 314716.
You can also find them on Facebook.
Botley Arts
Botley Arts is having its customary winter break now. We will be
returning to St Peter & St Paul's early in February with a sparkling
exhibition of work by the North Hinksey Art Group.
Sprout Grants
Thanks for getting back to us with your grant requests. So far we are
happy to have been able to support the Botley Baby and Toddler
group in replenishing their toy store, the Over-60s Lunch Club in
making their move to the new building, and to help with protesting
the proposed Expressway. Our grants tend to be around the £200
mark, so if this is a sum that would help you to do something useful
in the community, just email editor@thesprout.org.uk and tell us
about it.
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Fiona Wheeler,
firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
Scout Hall, Arnolds Way; mail@thefourth.org.uk
Website: http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, cubs 6.30-8, scouts 8-9.30, Botley Baptist Hall.
Amy Cusden 07887 654386 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Badminton Club
Thurs 7-8pm at Matthew Arnold Sports Hall. Garry Clark
0777 3559 314 garryclark13@gmail.com
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S. Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Jason Barley Ox. 242926 jbarley1@sky.com or Brendan
Byrne 792531 brendan.byrne999@gmail.com
Botley Health Walks Wednesday 9.30am. Contact Briony 01865 246497
Botley Library
01865 248142. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Singers
Thur 7.30, St Andrew’s Church, Dean Court. Angela Astley-
Penny Ox.242189 angastpen@aol.com
Branches Café, Westway
Place, Open to All 8am-3pm,
Open for young people 3-5 daily, Th. eves 7–9 Tel:01865
251115 www.branchesyouth.uk Facebook Instagram
Community Fridge
Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 11–5. Riki Therivel 07759 135811
Cumnor Choral Society
Rehearsals Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795
054142 or www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett 862788
www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District Historical
Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old School.
01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/ or phone , 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton village hall. C. Casson 01235 831352
or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org, call
01865-863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Let’s Sing! – singing group Weds 2pm, WOCC, details Emily 07969 522368
or email emformusic@outlook.com
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
Mum and Baby Yoga for
babies from 6 wks to crawling
Mondays 10.30 at Dean Court CC, contact Jacqueline
Rice via https://yogawithjacqueline.co.uk
North Hinksey Preschool and Mon–Fri 7.45am –6.00 pm. 01865 794287 or email
Childcare Clubs nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group Weds 10 – 12.00 W.I. Hall Tel: Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends. Contact Voirrey Carr 07798743121
voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of Annual Cricket Match & Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council Colin Ryde, tel 861992, clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
N Hinksey Youth Club
Wednesdays at Arnold's Way pavilion, call Daz on 07791
212866 or see Facebook
Over Sixties Lunch Club
Every other Thursday. Seacourt Hall. Viv Smith 01865
241539 or Jackie Warner 01865 721386
Oxford Flood Alliance R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxfd Flower Arranging Club 4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: 01865 865259
Oxford Harmony Men's
Acappella singing group
Meets Wednesdays 7.45 pm at Seacourt Hall Contact
pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays, twice
monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis
Club, N Hinksey
Family club: Melanie Riste 848658
melanie_riste@hotmail.com
Raleigh Park, Friends of raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Saturdads
Botley Bridges
Fun activities and trips for Dads and under 5’s
10 am–noon 1st Sat of month. Tel: 243955
Seacourt Hall management
committee
Michael Cockman 07766 317691
michael.cockman@gmail.com.
Shotokan Karate club 6+ WOCC twice weekly Martyn King 07836 646450
Walking for Health
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.45 Botley Library.
Alan 07941 610913
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall Banso
tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
West Oxford Bowls Club Contact details on www.westoxfordbowlsclub.co.uk
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall 01865
570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A (Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley) Liz Manson, 244175 or liz.manson@virginmedia.com
